Chain structure



Sept. 18, 1951 J, MOINTOSH ET AL 7 2,568,651-

CHAIN STRUCTURE Filed June 13, 1949 2O FIG.I.V

INVENTORS DONALD .1. MclNTOSH MITCHELL SMITH BY 2 g *W ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 18, 1951 CHAIN STRUCTURE Donald :J. McIntosh, and Mitchell. Smith, vDetroit, Mich. said McIntosh assignor to; said Smith Application-June 13, 1949, Serial'N0."98,735

"'Glaims.

'1 The present invention relates to chainstructure and more particularly to chain structure designed to facilitate separation between links of a sprocket chain.

The present invention is a continuation-inpart of our priorcopending application, 'Serial No. 8,664, 'filed Februar-y '16, 1948.

It is an object of'the present invention'to provide a chain of sprocket type adapted to beseparated between adjacent 'links thereof by a simple operation.

More specifically, it is an object ofthe present invention to providea chain of the character described having alternating pairs of inside and outside link plates which are pivotally interconnectedby-pivot pins constructed and arranged 'to 'be separable "from the chain when adjacent pairs .of inside and "outside link plates are dis- 1 posed at a particular angularity with respect to each other.

"More specifically, it is an object ofthe present invention to'providea chain of the character'described elnploying alternating pairs of inside and 'outside link plates, eachof which isprovided with openings for'the-reeeption of headed pivot 1 pins,- the :pivot pins "being held against rotation "with-respect'to'the inside plates in use and-having laterally -=extended portions at their ends adapted to serve'as stops against removal of the *pins except when theadjacent pairs-of inside and outside link plates are disposed'at-a particular anguiarity' diiierent from any which-will'be encountered in use.

Other objects an'd features of-the invention will become apparent-as the description proceeds,

especially when taken in conjunction with 'the accompanying drawings, '-wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded view'ofa-sin gle outside link plate--and the associated inside .link plates.

Figure 2- is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion ofan assembled chain.

Figure 3 is aperspective'view'of'oneform'of pivot pin.

"Figure 4 is a perspective view' of -a somewhat modified form of pivot pin.

Figure 5 is a-side elevation *ofagportion of a chain constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure G is-a fragmentary-perspective view: of yet-another modified-form of pivot pin.

Figure'lis arr-exploded view showing the pivot .pin of'Figure fi located inthe inside link plates and the outside link' plate in position to be-assembled therewith.

Referring now to Figures 1-5 thechain'structure is illustratedas comprising a first pair of inside link plates-10 and Hf-a second pair of inside link plates I2 and t3, anda pair of outside link plates M and I 5 extending between the pairs of inside link plates. A pivot-connection is establishedbetween each'adjacent pair-of link plates by a pivot pin -2'llwhichas illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5'is provided with .an enlarged central portion '22, I reduced neck portions 24 adjacent each end, and laterally extending ears or keys ZB-at opposite ends thereof.

Each of the'inside link plates" Hl, H, [2 and i3 is provided with an opening fifl which is generally circular in-shape and of asize'tointerfit with the reduced cylindrical neck portion 24 of the pivot pin. The openings 30 in the inside link plates also include lateral extensions "32 which Will accommodate and permit passage therethrough of thekeys-ZG provided on the pivot pins.

In like manner, the outside link plates l4 and 15 are provided adjacent the ends thereof with openings '34 which are of generally circular shape and adapted to interfit with the reduced cylindrical neck portions 24 of the pivot pins.

Openings 34 also include lateral extensions 36 it is registry with'the lateral extensions 32 of the openings 30. -A link-plate I5 is illustrated in position to beassembled-over the outwardly projecting ends of the pivot pins. It will be appreciated that'whenthe link-plate I5 (and the corresponding link plate [4- at the opposite side of the chain) has been assembled over the projectingen'd of. the pivot pin, that portion of the chain-may be straightened so that-the pairs of inside and outsidelink plates. are insubstantial alignment. The inside link plates20 are adapted to retain the pivot-pins-2i} against rotation therein and this may be accomplished in any. one of several manners, thus'for example, the opening 38 in the inside link plates may besuch that a press fit results between such openings and-the reduced cylindrical neck portion 24 of a the pins. A modified arrangement-Will subsequently be described.

,At all events whenthe adjacent pairs of link plates each constituted by ,a pair .of link plates, is brought into substantialalignment,,itwill be readily apparent that the key. .26 .Will extend transversely-withrespect to the axis of'the exappear.

tensions 36 provided in the openings 34 of the outside link plates. Thus the outside link plates l5 cannot be removed until the parts have been brought into the oriented position best illustrated in Figure 1.

The pin illustrated in Figure 3 may be substituted for the pin illustrated in Figure 4. This pin difiers therefrom primarily in that the entire length of the pivot pin 46 is of uniform cylindrical shape except for the laterally projecting keys 42 provided at each end. In this instance, inside link plates [0, II, 12 and [3 are preferably retained in separated position in the assemble-cl chain by virtue of cylindrical sleeves interposed over the intermediate cylindrical portion All of the pins and abutting against the inner surfaces of plates I and II on the one hand and plates I2 and I3 on the other hand.

Also if desired, similar cylindrical sleeves such as shown at 4| in Figure 5 may be provided over the intermediate cylindrical portion 22 of the pins 20 and it will be observed that the ears 23 of the pins 20 do not extend outwardly beyond the projected cylindrical surface 22, so that such sleeves may be slipped over the pin 26 after it has been completed.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7 there is illustrated a modified construction in which the pivot pin 50 is provided having a central cylindrical portion 52, which may if desired support a cylindrical bearing sleeve (not shown). At the ends of the intermediate cylindrical portion 52, the pins 50 are provided with reduced neck portions 54 which are of cylindrical shape for their major extent, but which are provided with non-circular surfaces 56 for a purpose which will presently Conveniently, the surfaces 56 may represent fiats provided which lie within the generally cylindrical configuration of the neck portion 7 54. Outwardly beyond the reduced neck portion 54 the pins 50 are provided with laterally extending cars 58.

Referring now to Figure 7 the inside link plates 60 are each provided with openings 62 which are of generally circular shape so as to interfit with the cylindrical portion of the necks 54. However, openings 62 also include lateral extensions 64 to permit passage of the car 58 therethrough and further include surface portions 66 adapted to interfit with and cooperate with the surface portions 56 on the neck of the pins so as to prevent rotation of the pins in the inside links. On the other hand, the outside link plates 10 are provided with openings 12 which are of circular shape with the exception of lateral extensions 74 adapted to permit passage therethrough of the cars 58. The openings :2 do not have non-circular surface portions such as the portions 66 and accordingly, the outside plates 10 are rotatable on the cylindrical portion of the reduced necks 54.

The parts illustrated in Figures 6 and '7 are assembled in precisely the same manner as those a previously described except that due to the interfitting configuratiton of the reduced necks of the pivot pins and the openings adjacent the ends of the inside plates, rotation between these elements i effectively prevented while at the same time the parts may be readily separated.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved chain structure in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A chain comprising a pair of elongated inside plates having openings adjacent their ends, said openings being of circular shape and including lateral extensions therein, a pair of elongated outside plates for attachment in overlapping relation to the ends of said inside plates, said outside plates having openings adjacent their ends of identical shape to the openings in said inside plates but which openings have the laterally extensions disposed at a substantially difierent angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said outside plate from the similar angle of said inside plates, pins having intermediate cylindrical portions fitting within the circular portions of the openings in both of said plates and retained against rotation in said inside plates, said pins having laterally extending ears shaped to pass through the extensions in said openings, said pins being retained with their ears out of registry with the extensions in said outside plates when said plates are in substantial alignment.

2. In a chain, a pair of elongated link plates having overlapping ends, like openings in said overlapping ends disposed to match when said plates are out of alignment, each of said openings comprising a circular portion having a lateral extension, a connecting pin in said openings having a lateral extension at one end shaped to pass through the lateral extensions in said openings when in registry therewith and to serve as a retainer when out of alignment therewith, and means retaining said pin against rotation in one of said openings.

3. A roller chain comprising end overlapping pairs of link plates pivoted together, the overlapping ends of said pairs of plates having registering pin receiving openings therein, pivot pins receivable in said openings comprising a central cylindrical bearing portion, reduced necks adjacent the ends, and heads comprising laterally extending ears beyond said necks, the ends of said ears lying within the projections of the cylindrical central portions, said necks having cylindrical surfaces and depressed locking surfaces, the openings in the innermost pair of link plates having lateral extensions to pass the lateral projections of said heads and edge surfaces engageable with the depressed locoking surfaces of said pins to prevent rotation of said pins in said inner plates, the openings in said outer plates being circular and having lateral extensions to pass the lateral projections of said heads when said pairs of plates are out of alignment.

4. A roller chain comprising end overlapping pairs of link plates pivoted together, the overlapping ends of said pairs of plates having registering pin receiving openings therein, pivot pins receivable in said openings comprising a central cylindrical bearing portion, reduced necks adjacent the ends, and heads comprising laterally extending ears beyond said necks, the ends of said ears lying within the projections of the cylindrical central portions, said necks having cylindrical surfaces and depressed locking surfaces, the openings in the innermost pair of link plates having lateral extensions to pass the lateral projections of said heads and edge surfaces engageable with the depressed locking surfaces of said pins to prevent rotation of said pins in said inner plates, the openings in said outer plates being circular and having lateral extensions to pass the lateral projections of said heads when said pairs of plates are out of alignment, said chain including cylindrical sleeves received over the central cylindrical bearing portions of said pins, said pins including the heads thereon being freely movable through said sleeves on assembly. 7

5. A roller chain comprising end overlapping pairs of link plates pivoted together, the overlapping ends of said pairs of plates having registering pin receiving openings therein, pivot pins receivable in said openings comprising a central cylindrical bearing portion, reduced necks adjacent the ends, and heads comprising laterally extending ears beyond said necks, the ends of said ears lying within the projections of the cylindrical central portions, said necks having cylindrical surfaces, the openings in the innermost pair of link plates having lateral extensions to pass the lateral projections of said heads and edge surfaces engageable with the surfaces of said pins to prevent rotation of said pins in said inner plates, the openings in said outer plates being circular and having lateral extensions to pass the lateral projections of said heads when said pairs of plates are out of alignment, said chain including cylindrical sleeves received over the central cylindrical bearing portions of said pins, said pins including the heads thereon ibeing freely movable through said sleeves on assembly.

DONALD J. McINTOSI-I. MITCHELL SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 359,029 Perkins Mar. 8, 1887 581,071 Jacquet Apr. 20, 1897 1,589,201 Meier June 15, 1926 

